80 Proof Lemonade

Saturday, February 27, 2016

I am beyond embarrassed about how long I have gone without updating my blog. So here's a minor update while I get back into my writing groove:

Our I-601 & I-212 waiver package was denied. Ultimately the reason behind the denial is all about Alberto's criminal conviction and whether it should be considered a CIMT. We had to go through a RFE before we reached the denial stage but who the hell knows anything anymore. They probably sent us an RFE hoping; (1) that I would still have Alberto's proof of income, (2) we would get disheartened and give up. I had a epic fucking news flash for the bastards... I have pay stubs, W2's, and 1099's for my darling husband going all the way back to 2001. I had everything they were asking for 100 times over! After 10 minutes of paging through my files I decided to invest in a decent quality scanner just to organize the documents I was locating and reduce the paper that I would bring over to Lance's office. Instead I filled a 4GB flash drive and was told that was more than enough for them to work with.

The denial was not the end of our journey, oh not by a long shot. We've appealed the denial to the AOA, and we are nearing the 6 month mark. The AOA is still currently reporting the timeline of these appeals as 6 months or less so I have hope that I will know something before I turn 31 this year.

Ashley celebrated her 7th birthday with her first concussion and several hour stay at the Children's Hospital. The total bill for the day the scooter skipped a beat and the follow up appointment came to a little under $3000. Ashley likes to talk about how her mommy leaped over a queen-sized bed like an Olympic Hurdler, even though she didn't witness the event.

Friday, June 19, 2015

It's almost embarrassing to admit that up until recently, I watched The Bold and The Beautiful religiously. I followed the story of Rick and Maya with intense interest, hoping that CBS would treat Maya and her transformation with respect while using it as a plot devise. I feel that CBS did justice to the transgender part of GLBT, but what followed this couple's 'happily for a little while' (after all this is a soap opera) was nothing short of offensive.

I thought we would be dealing with your standard love triangle in regards to Liam, Ivy, Steffy, and Wyatt. I was indignant to say the least when it was revealed that Ivy wanted Liam to marry her for immigration purposes. This is illegal, immoral, and a slap in the face to each and every one of us that is stuck in this immigration nightmare. My husband, best friend, and father of my only child has been waiting for more than half a decade to be granted the opportunity to return to the USA to be with his family. When you take into consideration my personal experience and exquisite torment that is living without your soul mate, one can see why I find this plot line infinitely more disrespectful than TLC's 90 Day Fiance.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

I know it has been a long time since I have done anything with my blog and I always say that I'm going to go update everything that has happened, but this time I mean it. This time I am going to deliver on that promise. Do you know why I plan to deliver this time after all those broken promises? It's because I am mad as hell and I am not going to hold it in anymore.

We submitted the waiver to the lockbox back in October only to get an RFE in the mail at the beginning of March. The RFE requests a ridiculous amount of information, most of which should be in the goddamned file already since it probably has it's very own filing drawer by now. The waiver we submitted in October was 900 pages long for fucksakes.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The first week at my dream job with one of the biggest Fortune 500 companies based in the frozen tundra was nothing if not an abject disappointment. The first day alone was ridiculous and warned me that this company would be on equal footing as the non-profit I slaved at for three years when it came to technology. The morning training session was punctuated with a series of technological failures, and each event was more baffling than the last.

Trainer 1 had a laptop that refused to turn on, and once that issue was solved she had to go back to her desk multiple times for print-offs and other materials. We spent the hour between the end of the training and lunch sitting at what would be our desks with no instructions or direction. I couldn't even try signing in to the systems because I had a computer tower with no monitors. I was forced to socialize with a fellow trainee out of sheer mind numbing boredom. I would have been better off keeping to myself and drafting blog posts in the notebook I had brought with me.